Calls for tougher checks on Airbnb owners after spate of violent, out-of-control parties

IT STARTED as a spate of teenagers gatecrashing parties and trashing Airbnbs in Melbourne. Now, the trend has turned fatal.

A DISTURBING trend has turned properties worth millions in ruins and now it has left a “happy and lovely” teenage girl dead.

Over 17 months, there has been six incidents with stark similarities where a short-term rental property has been hired out by teenagers in Melbourne, gatecrashed by up to 150 uninvited youths at a time and trashed — often leaving guests and police officers with injuries.

This weekend, the trend went way too far.

Laa Chol’s heartbroken family say she was a “goofy and out­going” university student who aspired to be a lawyer before her young life was cut cruelly short. A 17-year-old has now been charged after her death.

Her brutal stabbing at yet another out-of-control party in Melbourne — this time at the EQ Tower in the early hours of Saturday morning — has led to calls for stronger checks on guests at short-term property rentals.

Laa Chol, who was killed after a clash between two groups of people at a short-stay CBD apartment rental on Saturday.

TRASHED PROPERTIES

The first in a spate of six terrifying party invasions, which have left homes destroyed, police officers injured and residents terrified, began back in February 4, 2017, in Malvern East.

There were about 100 teens at the party, believed to be an 18th birthday where guests were charged $10 a head to pay for security and a DJ.

According to police, 40 weapon-yielding African men turned up in cars and a terrifying brawl broke out. Four people received non-life threatening injuries while another was treated for serious injuries.

No arrests were made.

The next took place in Werribee on December 18, 2017, when riot police were forced to retreat from 40 youths who started roaming the streets, throwing rocks and smashing cars.

Officers were attacked as they attended a property at Attunga Grove, which was rented out on Airbnb.

One of the witnesses likened it to a “war zone”. Police charged two people, another three were arrested but then let go.

Werribee residents said one street was turned into a ‘war zone’. Picture: Nicole Garmston

A short-term rental property in North Melbourne was targeted in April 29, when more than 50 people packed into the small property 2.5km from the CBD for the second time in a fortnight.

What started as a party ended up in wild scenes when police responded to a noise complaint.

A group of African youths who were partying there jumped on police cars, kicking in windscreens and knocking mirrors off. They threw rubbish bins and firewood over the fence and forced police to shelter inside a garage.

Four people were arrested, but were then released.

In May, a two-storey property in Melbourne’s Footscray was “trashed” by about 150 youths who crashed an out-of-control party at the residence after it was rented for a night through an online booking site.

Five teenagers were charged with offences including theft, criminal damage and drunken behaviour.

Earlier this month, two people were bashed by a gang of 60 girls who then trashed a $3.55 million Airbnb rental home in Hawthorn East with Apex graffiti.

One 17-year-old, who was already on bail, is charged with criminal damage.

CALLS FOR TOUGHER RULES

After the violent episodes in Hawthorn, Footscray and North Melbourne, Victoria Police chief commissioner Graham Ashton said owners of Airbnb ‘‘party houses” had to share blame for wild gatherings and called for more stringent checks on potential renters.

Ring Mayar, the recently elected chairman of the South Sudanese Community Association in Victoria (SSCAV), has joined the calls for reform.

“The responsibility does not fall squarely on those young people. Even the owners of those houses share their burden as well,” he told The Australian earlier this month.

Ring Mayar says Airbnb owners are partly to blame for the violence. Picture: David Geraghty/The Australian

“What are the contracts in place, if I may ask the house owners, and how are they leasing these houses to the young people who may come with unruly behaviour?

“Are they aware that when they rent houses to those kids, and there are so many of them, that there’ll be problems?”

However, Mr Mayar, who has been reportedly been assaulted with a metal pole amid claims of political infighting within the government-funded SSCAV, has copped criticism on social media from critics who say he is deflecting the bad behaviour of guests onto those who rent their home out.

POLITICAL FALLOUT

Ms Chol’s death has sparked a political war of words over a perceived problem of African gang violence in Melbourne.

However, the 19-year-old’s grieving family said she had no connection to gangs and was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton — who has previously said people in Melbourne were “scared to go out at restaurants” because of African gang violence — says the death points to a “major law and order problem” in Victoria.

“This is a tragic and needless loss of a young life,” he said in a statement to Fairfax Media.

“There is a major law and order problem in Victoria and more people are going to be hurt until the rule of law is enforced by the Victorian Government.

“We don’t have these problems with Sudanese gangs in NSW or Queensland.”

The comment comes as detectives are still hunting the killer, while the 19-year-old university student’s friends and family pay tribute to the “happy and lovely” teenager.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews told ABC Ms Chol’s family “deserve better” than Mr Dutton’s politicised comments.

Laa Chol was killed on Saturday.

Picture: Facebook

Her heartbroken mother and a cousin have spoken of their grief and loss, calling for “justice” for the young aspiring lawyer.

“I’m speechless … I don’t know what I’m going to do without her,” her mother, Ojwanga Abalo told the Herald Sun, while cousin Nyawie Dau said, “We need justice for Laa. They need to find whoever did this”.

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‘HORRENDOUS SCREAMING’

Commander Tim Hansen, of the North West Metro region, told reporters Ms Chol died from “assault related injuries” when a group of people crashed a party she was attending. Neighbours reportedly heard “horrendous screaming” as she was stabbed to death.

The EQ Tower opened in May last year and has quickly become a popular location for both tourists and locals wanting somewhere cheap and convenient to stay in the CBD.

Police say Ms Chol was part of a group who had rented a short-term stay apartment in the building.

Detectives are still hunting the killer. Picture: Nicole Garmston

During the course of the night, a “second group” arrived at the address on the 56th floor, and “a dispute of some nature occurred resulting in the victim being assaulted”.

“A number of persons have immediately left that party,” Mr Hansen said.

“Police arrived to what was a fairly chaotic scene.”

One neighbour, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told reporters she heard “horrendous screaming” coming from the building in the early hours of Saturday morning.

“They were shouting and screaming and the girl’s scream was incredibly loud … just screeching,” she said.

“Normally I would call the police but they went off down the road.

“But it’s not unusual coming from this building.

“So much goes on in the building in the middle of the night with people drunk.”

Police sift through rubbish for evidence in Anthony St. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Police investigate after a woman was killed in Melbourne. Picture: Nicole Garmston

SOCIAL MEDIA TRIBUTES

On social media, friends paid tribute to “a beautiful soul”.

“Never thought Friday would be my last time on earth seeing you,” Shushu Kishak wrote on Facebook.

“You were such a beautiful soul & didn’t deserve any of this … forever remembering the memories we had.

“RIP my beautiful princess I love you.”

Skye United soccer club on Sunday posted on social media: “Laa was an integral part of our women’s team since joining in March this year. All our love, thoughts & prayers go out to Laa’s family, friends & teammates.”

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Calls for tougher checks on Airbnb owners after spate of violent, out-of-control parties